STONE RIDGE- John K. "Jack" Lester, 88, of Atwood Road, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 at Kingston Hospital after a short illness. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Margaret Donnelly Lester, two grandsons, Jon and Jeffery Hochberg, and two great- grandchildren, Sarah and Alex Hochberg. A daughter, Sharon Langling passed away in Nov. of 2011.
He was born in Kingston on March 23, 1923, a son of the late Wilson and Alice Stokes Lester. He attended school in Kingston and the day after Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to Battery "B" of the 29th F.A. Artillary Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division. After training in the U.S. & England, he took part in the Normandy invasion on D-Day, landing on Utah Beach. He fought with his unit through France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany until the war ended. In recognition to his services, he received the American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, European Theater of Operations with Bronze Arrowhead, and 5 Campaign Stars, Army Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Bronze Star, Presidential Distingushed Unit Citation, and the Belgian Fouragere.
After his discharge from the Army, he married Margaret Donnelly in 1946 and settled in Stone Ridge. He was employed by IBM for many years and retired in 1980.
He was a member of the National 4th Infantry (IVY) Division Association, Post 1512, American Legion, Stone Ridge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Grand Cross of Homage (Military Order of Ardennes).
Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at the George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., 3663 Route 209, Stone Ridge. Rev. Arlene Dawber will officiate. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Stone Ridge. Friends may call on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Memorials are requested to Marbletown First Aid Unit or to Marbletown Post 1512 American Legion. (www.GJMoylanFu?neralHome.com)
Published in Daily Freeman on February 4, 2012